When I was asked if I was interested in sailing the Java Sea for 10 days with Seabourn Cruises, I jumped at the chance. I had never been to Asia and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to change that. While I've traveled quite a lot on my own in the US, it's really only in the past year that i've become more comfortable doing it overseas. A cruise seemed like a good way for me to get a taste of Indonesia, while still having the comfort of a consistent place to call home.
After 24 hrs of travel I arrived in Bali, was picked up from the airport and driven to our ship, The Encore. The first thing I noticed when boarding was how beautifully designed the ship was. It was very sophisticated and modern, which appealed to my eye. Not only was the ship gorgeous, but the service from start to finish was beyond any place I'd ever stayed. The staff was incredible, seriously I can't say enough about them. They all went above and beyond for every guest and that is the kind of thing that stays with you. Special shout out to my stewardess Janet who brought me a fresh fruit plate every afternoon and spent 3 days trying to track down the perfect dry white wine for me, so I could have it in my room. Speaking of my room, I stayed in the Veranda Suite, which had a king size bed, a gorgeous marble bathroom with separate shower and tub (which I love), a walk in closet, a seating area and my favorite part, my own balcony. I can't tell you how much I loved that balcony; I had breakfast out there most mornings and in the afternoons I'd go out there to sip wine, listen to an audiobook and stare out into the ocean. It was the perfect place to unwind, be alone with my thoughts and stay out of that hot Indonesian sun.
Our original itinerary:
- Denpasar, Bali
- Denpasar, Bali
- Komodo Island
- At sea
- Celukan Bawang, Bali
- Problinggo, Java
- Surabaya, Java
- Semarang, Java
- At sea
- At sea
- Singapore
Our updated itinerary:
- Denpasar, Bali
- Denpasar, Bali
- Komodo Island
- At sea
- Problinggo, Java
- Surabaya, Java
- Surabaya, Java
- Semarang, Java
- At sea
- At sea
- Singapore
When I first arrived on the ship I was told that the original itinerary had changed due to a Hindu holiday and that we would no longer be stopping in Celukan Bawang, which is in north Bali. I was extremely disappointed to find out this information because most of the places I was excited to see were in Bali. That meant that I only had the next morning to explore as much as possible since we were departing at noon. Because of my bad jet lag I had no problem waking up early, so I got off the ship at 6:30am, found a driver and told him to take me to the rice terraces which are 1.5 hrs away. When we got there I was completely in awe. They were absolutely worth the drive. After a walk through the rice paddies, the driver showed me as much of the island as he could given our time restraints. He took me to a local market, a Hindu temple and a batik shop before heading back to the ship. It was so hard to leave after getting the tiniest taste. From what I experienced, the Balinese are extremely kind and happy people. I really hope to make it back some day. If you are looking to book this cruise I would suggest getting to Bali a few days earlier so you have time to see the Island and adjust to the time difference before the ship departs.
Our next stop ended up being my favorite of all, Komodo Island. On this trip I got to choose 2 offshore excursions hosted by Seabourn. I chose the pink beach on Komodo Island and Borobodour Temple in Java. I found out that because of the strict rules on visitors to Komodo, you could only go ashore if you payed for one of the three offshore excursions offered; otherwise you would have to stay back on the ship. While the view from the ship of Komodo and the surrounding islands was spectacular, I was so glad I got to go ashore. Pink beach was heaven; the pale pink sand juxtaposing the turquoise water and the green grass in a shade unlike anything I'd ever seen. There were snorkels and refreshments provided, but I spent my time walking the beach and hiking up a cliff to get the best view. I didn't see any Komodo Dragons (that was offered on a separate excursion), but I still kept my eye out just incase.
Once we made it to Java, I realized just how different each Indonesian island is. Java is quite conservative compared to Bali. They are not used to tourists in the same way the Balinese are, so when we got there I made sure to dress modestly as not to offend anyone. I still managed to have a few unfortunate and negative experiences as a woman traveling alone. Perhaps it differs depending on which city or town you visit; Java is enormous. For the most part I found the people of Java to be loving and joyous. I tried not to let a few negative experiences taint my view of the people or the place, but I can't say I suggest traveling there alone as a women. On another note, my excursion to Borobodour Temple (which was with a group), was one of the more memorable and meaningful experiences I had. Borobodour is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It is really a sight to behold; the sheer size, the intricate carvings, the wild jungle that surrounds it. If you ever find yourself in Java, I highly recommend a visit. The drive there is beautiful too. It's 2.5 hours from Semarang and takes you through rice paddies and colorful little villages. Because the drive is a bit long, our ship's tour buses made sure to stop for snacks and a quick break at a coffee shop along the way and then batik and souvenir shopping on the way home.
On sea days you are never searching for things to do. You could easily stay on board the entire cruise and never leave. There are multiple lectures daily, dance parties, movies or shows every night. The ship has two pools, four whirlpools, a casino, a spa, a gym and a trivia game every other day. I spent my time lounging by the pool, getting a massage at the spa and I even took a guided meditation class. The food on board was also fabulous. Not at all what you'd expect on a cruise, not that I knew what to expect. My favorite restaurant was the sushi restaurant. It was so good, I ate there at least 4 times during my stay. Thomas Keller also has a restaurant on board. Yes that Thomas Keller. Just make sure to make a reservation when you arrive, as it's reservation only and books up quickly. The other restaurants you can just walk in. I got very spoiled with all the choices daily. One of the things I noticed and loved was that in the morning they had breakfast for practically every country and culture present. There was everything from eggs, beans on toast to congee and muesli. Truly something for everyone.
A lot of you asked if there were any people my age on board. The short answer is, no not many, but I didn't mind. Actually I loved it. Everyone on board was friendly, well traveled and had fabulous stories to tell. For once I wasn't self conscious of my bikini body (or lack there of) and everyone said good morning or hello to you when you passed; something I feel like my generation has lost. For the most part we tend to keep to our phones and so rarely make in person connections with strangers. On this trip I talked to so many people over the 10 days, I never felt lonely. Seabourn also does a really smart thing where if you're traveling alone they invite you each night to sit at a different table hosted by various people on board. I met so many great people that way and made some real connections.
When we made it to Singapore I had a really hard time leaving. I had gotten so used to a slower pace of life and waking up in a new and beautiful place each day. After making friends with many avid cruise travelers, they all said the same thing as to why they love Seabourn. They love it for it's intimate size (Encore only has 600 guests), the level of service and of course...the food. Now I can see why.
PS. EVERYONE I talked to said the Seabourn Antarctica cruise is one of the most incredible and memorable travel experiences of their lives. Antarctica is a place I've never considered, but now it's on my list!